U.S. patent application number 11/707965 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-21 for combined glowing decorative structure.
Invention is credited to Chi-Shih Lai.
Application Number | 20080198599 11/707965 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39706485 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080198599 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Lai; Chi-Shih |
August 21, 2008 |
Combined glowing decorative structure
Abstract
A combined glowing decorative structure includes a receiving
body, having a receiving room inside, connecting with a controlling
device and including at least one fixing portion mounted on at
least one side; at least one extension, received in the receiving
room of the receiving body and having a connecting portion for
connecting with the corresponding fixing portion; and a glowing
assembly, electrically connecting to the controlling device on one
end and spreading along the receiving body and the at least one
extension. Accordingly, the receiving room of the receiving body
can receive the extension and the fixing portion of the receiving
body can connect with the connecting portion of the extension.
Thereby, the receiving body and the at least one extension form a
glowing decorative shape.
Inventors: |
Lai; Chi-Shih; (Taipei
Hsien, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROSENBERG, KLEIN & LEE
3458 ELLICOTT CENTER DRIVE-SUITE 101
ELLICOTT CITY
MD
21043
US
|
Family ID: |
39706485 |
Appl. No.: |
11/707965 |
Filed: |
February 20, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/249.16 ;
362/806 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21W 2121/00 20130101;
F21Y 2115/10 20160801; F21V 33/0028 20130101; F21V 17/007
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/252 ;
362/250; 362/806 |
International
Class: |
F21S 13/14 20060101
F21S013/14; F21V 21/26 20060101 F21V021/26; F21V 21/32 20060101
F21V021/32 |
Claims
1. A combined glowing decorative structure, comprising: a receiving
body, having a receiving room inside, connecting with a controlling
device with at least one fixing portion mounted on at least one
side; at least one extension, allowed to be received in the
receiving room of the receiving body and having a connecting
portion for connecting with the corresponding fixing portion; and a
glowing assembly, electrically connecting to the controlling device
on one end and spreading along the receiving body and the at least
one extension; wherein the receiving room of the receiving body
receives the at least one extension and the at least one fixing
portion of the receiving body connected with the connecting portion
of the at least one extension thereby the receiving body and the at
least one extension form a glowing decorative shape.
2. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the receiving body is an enclosure body and includes a
movable cover corresponding to at least one side of the receiving
room.
3. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 2,
wherein the glowing assembly spreads along an inward side of the
movable cover.
4. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 3,
wherein a light frame is mounted on the inward side of the movable
cover and the glowing assembly spreads along the light frame.
5. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the fixing portion is a fixing shaft and the connecting
portion is a sleeving groove that correspondingly pivotedly engages
with the fixing portion.
6. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the fixing portion and the connecting portion are
corresponding coronary gears which engage with each other, and
pivotedly connect by a locking portion, thereby the connecting
portion turns relative to the fixing portion.
7. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the extension is formed by a plurality of pipes connecting
with each other.
8. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 7,
wherein the glowing assembly spreads through the pipes.
9. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim 1,
wherein each extension has an elastic element.
10. The combined glowing decorative structure as claimed in claim
1, wherein the glowing assembly has a plurality of flexible wires,
a plurality of glowing elements are mounted on the flexible wires,
and each flexible wire has a corresponding connector on each
connecting end.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a combined glowing
decorative structure, and more especially to a combined glowing
decorative structure in which decoration extensions can be packaged
in a main body via a boxing method that allows the volume of the
unassembled decoration to be reduced, thereby making the
transportation and storage of the combined glowing decorative
structure more convenient
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] As people pay greater attention to their living standards,
they like to create a comfortable atmosphere in any place which
they will inhabit for any length of time. Decorating interior
spaces with a variety of decorations not only fills the space, but
also adds joy to their lives, thereby improving often humdrum
interior environments and creating a pleasant atmosphere that is
conducive to living in. Especially during festivals, such as
Thanksgiving, All Saints' Day, Christmas and so on, decorating
interior spaces is a western custom that creates warm atmospheres
and adds to the festive nature of the celebration.
[0005] However, as globalization continues and the international
division of labor deepens, the places where decorations are
manufactured are usually far away from the places where the
decorations are sold and used. Usually the decorations are
manufactured in one country and sold or used in another. For
example, products manufactured in China or South East Asia are
often sold in North America or Europe. As such, the manufactured
decorations usually need to be transported by sea, air or land
before they arrive in the places where they are to be sold or used.
Because the decorations usually have large volumes and irregular
shapes (such as decorations with extended arms or long bending
tails), packaging costs and transportation costs are quite
high.
[0006] To reduce the costs of packaging and transportation,
manufacturers often separate a decoration into a plurality of
elements and then repackage the elements in a new arrangement to
reduce the packaging volume and reduce the amount of required
packaging materials. Furthermore, because reduction of a single
packaging volume can increase the total quantity of decorations
stored in the same container, efficiency of transportation is
improved and the costs of packaging and transportation can be
further reduced.
[0007] Although the decoration structures described above can be
separated into a plurality of elements to be packaged in order to
reduce packaging volume and increase the total transportation
quantity of containers, the decoration structures have shortcomings
as described below:
[0008] 1. The above prior decoration structure can be separated
into a plurality of elements for packaging. However, each element
still has a basic volume and occupies a basic space, so no matter
how many elements the decoration structure can be separated into,
or how many packaging arrangement modes are projected, the efficacy
of reducing volume is only achieved by increasing the density of
the packaging, meanwhile the actual total volume is unchanged.
Hence, this method only partly achieves the efficacy of reducing
packaging materials; the packaging costs cannot be further
substantially reduced. The most common packaging material is paper.
As costs of raw material rise and environmental consciousness
improves, packaging costs will only continue to rise.
[0009] 2. No matter how many elements the above prior decoration
structure can be separated into, or how many packaging arrangement
modes are projected, though the packaging volume is reduced, the
actual total volume of the decoration is unchanged so that the
total quantity of the decorations stored in a same container cannot
be substantially increased. Because energy costs in the
international market are high, if the total transportation quantity
per unit container cannot increase, transportation costs will
increase, which makes the decorations less competitive.
[0010] 3. The above prior decoration structures can help people to
improve uninspiring interior environments, add joy to their lives
and create pleasant atmospheres by changing the modeling, fittings
and movements of the decorations. However, the prior decorations
only can bring about these effects in very bright conditions. At
night, or in other dark conditions, the decorations are invisible
and do not improve interior environments, even if they are
decorated beautifully. People today pay attention to aesthetic
tastes and desire that their decorations have more color and
luster, and even lighting effects, to meet the desire for improving
their living environments.
[0011] 4. In cities, conventional families have limited living
space, so storage space is reduced greatly. Since the actual total
volume of the above prior decoration structures are unchanged after
the decoration structures are separated into a plurality of
elements for storage, the decorations still occupy a certain amount
of space. So how to reduce the storage volume of the decorations is
a considerable problem for users.
[0012] Hence, the inventors of the present invention believe that
the shortcomings described above are able to be improved upon and
suggest the present invention as being of a reasonable design and
as an effective improvement based on deep research and thought.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] An object of the present invention is to provide a combined
glowing decorative structure which can package decoration
extensions in a main body via a boxing method that reduces the
volume of the unassembled decoration for transportation and
storage.
[0014] To achieve the above-mentioned object, a combined glowing
decorative structure in accordance with the present invention is
disclosed. The combined glowing decorative structure includes a
receiving body, having a receiving room inside, connected with a
controlling device and mounting at least one fixing portion on at
least one side; at least one extension, allowed to be received in
the receiving room of the receiving body and each having a
connecting portion for connecting with the corresponding fixing
portion; and a glowing assembly, electrically connected with the
controlling device on one end and spread along the receiving body
and the at least one extension.
[0015] Accordingly, the present invention provides the receiving
room of the receiving body to receive the at least one extension in
and provides the at least one fixing portion of the receiving body
to connect with the connecting portion of the at least one
extension. Thereby the receiving body and the at least one
extension form a glowing decorative shape.
[0016] To further understand technical contents, methods and
efficacy of the present invention, please refer to the following
detailed description and drawings related the present invention. It
is believed that the objects, features and points of the present
invention can be deeply understood. However, the drawings are only
to be used as references and explanations, not to limit the present
invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a combined glowing
decorative structure in accordance with the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an assembled perspective view of the combined
glowing decorative structure in accordance with the present
invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a partially exploded perspective view of a
receiving body and a head extension of the combined glowing
decorative structure in accordance with the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
receiving body and an upper limb extension of the combined glowing
decorative structure in accordance with the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a partially exploded perspective view of the
receiving body and a lower limb extension of the combined glowing
decorative structure in accordance with the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
combined glowing decorative structure in accordance with the
present invention, in an assembled state;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the embodiment of the
combined glowing decorative structure in accordance with the
present invention, in a packaged state;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a controlling device of the
combined glowing decorative structure in accordance with the
present invention;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a circuit wiring diagram of the controlling device
and glowing elements of the combined glowing decorative structure
in accordance with the present invention; and
[0026] FIG. 10 is an assembled perspective view of a second
embodiment of the combined glowing decorative structure in
accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0027] Please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in which a combined
glowing decorative structure in accordance with a preferred
embodiment of the present invention is shown. The combined glowing
decorative structure includes a receiving body 1, a head extension
2, two upper limb extensions 3, two lower limb extensions 4, and a
glowing assembly 5.
[0028] The receiving body 1 is a enclosure body made of transparent
material with a receiving room 11 inside. The receiving body 1 has
a movable cover 12 made of transparent material corresponding to at
least one side of the receiving room 11 and a light frame 13 on an
inward side of the movable cover 12. A controlling device 14
connects with the receiving body 1. The receiving body 1
respectively mounts first fixing portions 15 on a top surface, a
left side, and a right side thereof. The first fixing portions 15
are shafts. Two second fixing portions 16 are mounted on a bottom
of the receiving body 1. The second fixing portions 16 are coronary
gears. Additionally, the receiving body 1 has a plurality of
modeling units with facial features 17 (such as eyes, a nose, a
mouth and so on) on a front side.
[0029] Please also refer to FIGS. 3-7. The head extension 2, the
two upper limb extensions 3, and the two lower limb extensions 4
can all be received in the receiving room 11 of the receiving body
1. The head extension 2 has a first connecting portion 22 formed by
sleeving grooves. The first connecting portion 22 connects with a
corresponding first fixing portion 15. The head extension 2 has at
least a first pipe 21 or more than two first pipes 21 connecting
with each other. The first pipe 21 of the head extension 2 can
engage with a modeling unit with hat 23.
[0030] The two upper limb extensions 3 have second connecting
portions 32 formed by sleeving grooves. The second connecting
portions 32 can respectively connect with the corresponding first
fixing portions 15. Each upper limb extension 3 is formed by two
second pipes 31 pivotedly connecting with each other. The ends of
the two second pipes 31 which connect with each other respectively
have first pivoted portions 33 which are formed by coronary gears
and engage with each other. A first combined element 34 (such as a
bolt, a rivet, or so on) pivotedly fixes the two first pivoted
portions 33 so that the two second pipes can turn relative to each
other. Thereby the pivoted connection is achieved. The second pipes
31 of the upper limb extensions 3 can engage with modeling units
with hands 35.
[0031] The two lower limb extensions 4 have third connecting
portions 42 formed by coronary gears. The third connecting portions
42 can respectively engage with the corresponding second fixing
portions 16. The second fixing portions 16 and the third connecting
portions 42 are pivotedly fixed via second combined elements 43
(such as bolts, rivets, or so on) so that the third connecting
portions can turn relative to the second fixing portion 16. Each
lower limb extension 4 is formed by two third pipes 41 pivotedly
connecting with each other. The ends of the two third pipes 41
which connect with each other respectively have second pivoted
portions 44 which are formed by coronary gears and engage with each
other. A third combined element 45 (such as a bolt, a rivet, or so
on) pivotedly fixes the two second pivoted portions 44 so that the
two third pipes 41 can turn relative to each other. Thereby the
pivoted connection is achieved. The third pipes 41 of the lower
limb extensions 4 can engage with modeling units with feet 46.
[0032] The glowing assembly 5 includes a plurality of glowing
elements 52 mounted on a plurality of flexible wire 51. The glowing
elements 52 can be LED lights or light bulbs, etc. One end of one
flexible wire 51 electrically connects to the controlling device
14. Two connecting ends of each flexible wire 51 respectively have
corresponding connectors 53. The connectors 53 of the many flexible
wires 51 can be mounted on the receiving body 1. The flexible wires
51 electrically connect with each other via the connectors 53 on
the connecting ends thereof and spread along the light frame 13 on
the inward side of the movable cove 12 in the receiving room 11 of
the receiving body 1, the first pipe 21 of the head extension 2,
the second pipes 31 of the upper limb extensions 3, and the third
pipes 41 of the lower limb extensions 4.
[0033] Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2, 6, 7. When assembled, the head
extension 2, the two upper limb extensions 3 and the two lower limb
extensions 4 are respectively mounted around the receiving body 1
via the first fixing portions 15 and the second fixing portions 16
to form a combined modeling decoration. The flexible wires 51 of
the glowing assembly 5 connect each other via the connectors 53 of
the ends thereof that engage with each other. The flexible wire 51
spread through the receiving body 1, the first pipe 21 of the head
extension 2, the second pipes 31 of the two upper limb extensions
3, and the third pipes 41 of the two lower limb extensions 4. The
controlling device 14 controls the glowing elements 52 of the
glowing assembly 51 to glow. During packaging, transportation and
storage, the head extension 2, the two upper limb extensions 3 and
the two lower limb extensions 4 can be received in the receiving
room 11 of the receiving body 1 from the movable cover 12 to reduce
their volume.
[0034] Since the glowing assembly of the present invention has
lamps with changeable lamplights, the present invention further
provides a control circuit to control the controlling device 14 of
the glowing assembly 5 to describe the operation of the LED glowing
elements 52. Please refer to FIG. 8.
[0035] The control circuit which controls the controlling device 14
includes a control chip 610, a red light group 620, a blue light
group 630, a green light group 640, a power supply 670, and a
variable resistor 685 for controlling an action-time of the
circuit. The power supply 670 provides a DC (direct current) source
via a pin 671, and provides an AC (alternating current) source for
the control chip 610 via a pin 675 so that the control chip 610 can
further control run-sequences and glowing actions of the red light
group 620, the blue light group 630, and the green light group 640,
and connect to the ground via a pin 673.
[0036] The control chip 610 controls the red light group 620 via a
pin 621, controls the blue light group 630 via a pin 631, and
controls the green light group 640 via a pin 641. The other ends of
the red light group 620, the blue light group 630, and the green
light group 640 connect to the ground.
[0037] The control chip 610 further provides pins 651, 653 as
controlling switch points, thereby users switch the running
circuits of the LED glowing elements 52 by switching a first switch
655 which in turn changes the color of the LED glowing elements 52.
The embodiment has two or three color changes. In other words, when
the first switch 655 switches to the pin 651, the control chip 610
will control two groups of the red light group 620, the blue light
group 630, and the green light group 640 to change while the other
group remains unchanged.
[0038] The control chip 610 can control the run modes of the LED
glowing elements 52, and the change modes of the LED glowing
elements 52, by switching the connection of the pins 661, 663 via a
second switch 665. For example, assuming that the pin 661 controls
the red light group 620, the blue light group 630 or the green
light group 640 to twinkle alternately and continuously, then the
pin 663 controls the red light group 620, the blue light group 630,
or the green light group 640 to gradually brighten or dim. When the
second switch 665 switches to the pin 661 so that the pin 661
connects to the ground, under the control of the control chip 610,
the red light group 620, the blue light group 630, or the green
light group 640, will twinkle alternately and continuously. When
the second switch 665 switches to the pin 663 so that the pin 663
connects to the ground under the control of the control chip 610,
the red light group 620, the blue light group 630 or the green
light group 640 gradually brightens or dims.
[0039] Because a variable resistor 685 connects to pins 681, 683,
the control chip 610 can control the action-time of the red light
group 620, the blue light group 630, or the green light group 640
according to the variety of the variable resistor 685.
[0040] The control circuits in the red light group 620, the blue
light group 630, or the green light group 640 are shown in FIG.
9.
[0041] The red light group 620 includes variable resistors 623,
629, a control transistor 625, and a red LED light 627. The blue
light group 630 includes variable resistors 633, 639, a control
transistor 635, and a blue LED light 637. The green light group 640
includes variable resistors 643, 649, a control transistor 645, and
a green LED light 647.
[0042] Assuming that the first switch 655 switches to the pin 651
so that the pin 651 connects to the ground, the control chip 610
controls the red light group 620, the blue light group 630, and the
green light group 640 to work. Accordingly, when the control
transistor 625 connects to a certain voltage source VCC, the
control chip 610 can transmit signals to the control transistor 625
via the pin 621 to ensure that the control transistor 625 conducts
and further makes the red LED light 627 emits. The switch
directions of the first switch 655 can be predetermined.
[0043] In the same way, the control chip 610 can transmit signals
to the control transistor 635 via the pin 631 to ensure that the
control transistor 635 conducts and further makes the blue LED
light 637 conduct. Alternatively, the control chip 610 can transmit
signals to the control transistor 645 via the pin 641 to ensure
that the control transistor 645 conducts and further makes the
green LED light 647 emits.
[0044] The action-time of each LED light is determined by a
variable resistor 685 and action changes of each LED light are
controlled based upon the switching of the second switch 665.
[0045] A second embodiment of the present invention is shown in
FIG. 10. For the second embodiment of the present invention, the
head extension 2, the upper limb extensions 3 and the lower limb
extensions 4 are formed by elastic elements, respectively. The
glowing assembly 5 is spread on the head extension 2, the upper
limb extensions 3, and the lower limb extensions 4 by means of
winding.
[0046] Accordingly, the features and efficacy of the present
invention can be summed up as follows:
[0047] 1. The present invention forms the receiving room 11 inside
the receiving body I for storing the head extension 2, the upper
limb extensions 3 and the lower limb extensions 4. Thereby the
actual total volume is reduced, packaging costs are lowered and
total transportation quantity per unit container can be increased
to make the combined glowing decorative structures more cost
competitive.
[0048] 2. The present invention can be assembled and separated by
users in a DIY (Do It Yourself) mode. In an idle state, the present
invention can store the head extension 2, the upper limb extensions
3, and the lower limb extensions 4 in the receiving room 11 inside
the receiving body 1 to reduce the volume and save storage
space.
[0049] 3. The present invention matches the modeling units with
facial features 17, the modeling units with hat 23, the modeling
units with hands 35 and the modeling units with feet 46, and the
head extension 2, the upper limb extensions 3 and the lower limb
extensions 4 can be adjusted to turn, so that the combined modeling
is more three-dimensional and has more expressions and actions.
[0050] 4. The present invention further has the glowing assembly 5
for decorating the modeling body and the pipes of the four limbs to
create a better atmosphere in a decorated space.
[0051] What is disclosed above is only the preferred embodiments of
the present invention and it is therefore not intended that the
present invention be limited to the particular embodiments
disclosed. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that
various equivalent changes may be made depending on the
specification and the drawings of the present invention without
departing from the scope of the present invention.
* * * * *